Subscribe to this blog

Follow by Email

The 30 Day Music Challenge, Day 3: Summertime

From the 1990s list: "Sunbittern" by Driver Eight
When it comes to seasons, I often think of songs in terms of when I acquired an album, or at what time of the year I found myself listening to an album the most. For instance, I very vividly remember listening to Steve Taylor's Squint CD while on my way home from the closing shift at Wendy's on Christmas Eve night. Those songs always remind me of winter.

So does Driver Eight's Watermelon, because I bought it in the winter of 1996. One song, though, reminds me of summer, and that's "Sunbittern". The sunbittern, as explained in the liner notes, is a bird found in many tropical areas of the North and South American continents.You said you had to goTo someplace I don't knowStrawberries in spring won't happen 'til we get thereThrough the ocean blue like rainbows do flyFly away, fly away

Matt McCartie's sister traveled away for a time while he was growing up, and this song dealt with the time she was away, and how much he missed her. This song contains a light, floating sound when it begins, and with each approach of the chorus, it raises in volume and power. The final chorus adds more background vocals to provide even more lift, and the song achieves its apex. You can only watch as it glides into the sunset, possibly towards an uncharted island, begging for you to follow it through the clouds.

Off the list: "Summertime" by Audio Adrenaline
I really had a love/hate relationship with Audio Adrenaline. I got the youth group fodder self-titled album when I was in high school and didn't share it with very many people. I saw the band evolve and mature (somewhat) over the course of several albums. For every "Some Kind of Zombie" that gave me hope, there was always a "People Like Me" right alongside it that made me groan. I believe Underdog had potential, but it was bloated with too many mediocre songs. "The Houseplant Song" . . . don't get me started. What killed it for me with Audio A, though, was when "Get Down" won the 2000 Dove Award for Rock Recorded Song of the Year, the following chorus in tow:I get down, and He lifts me upI get down, and He lifts me upI get down, and He lifts me upEvery time I'm down, the Lord lifts me up

So yeah, I was done with Audio Adrenaline.

And then one day I got X 2003: Experience the Alternative, a 2-disc compilation CD that contained some great tracks from over 30 bands, and "Summertime" was included.
I. WAS. SHOCKED.
Not only did this song rock REAL hard, but the songwriting quality seemed to take a significant leap forward from their previous works. Yeah, the idea of heaven being like summer all day every day is simple, but the way it's put together in this song reveals an innocence that's pure, an excitement that's true, and a major sense of anticipation in the ultimate escape.

This is, quite possibly, one of Audio Adrenaline's biggest sounding rock songs, staking its claim from the very beginning, opening with a 2-note stab, then using the same stab in the chorus, followed by the hook sung in the silence following. The rest of the chorus rides out the sonic wave, and the overall feel of the tune is quick and light while still sounding heavy.

This is the perfect song to play at full volume with the windows down, or better yet, in a top-down convertible, driving on the Pacific Coast Highway (where I've never been), sunglasses on and an ice cold fountain cola in the drink holder, on your way to the beach. If only the song didn't end so soon . . .

There Is No Box.
Zach

Get link

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Google+

Email

Other Apps

Popular Posts

So I've learned one thing about writing a blog series: plan better. For instance, don't try to write the last installment the week before Easter when you work at a church full-time. That's just a losing proposition.

Here we are. The pinnacle. The peak. The top of the mountain, the best of the best.The Top 10 Christian Albums of the 1990s. Forget AC/pop radio, because you're not going to hear mid-30s mommy music here. Unless you were a mid-30s mommy in the '90s and actually listened to this stuff. Then it's totally yours. But these albums, to me, are the most beloved, most artistic, most groundbreaking, most creative, and most important albums from that decade, and they span from the very beginning of the 1990s to the very end.

Last year, I created my first Top 10 (+1) list, and it was of my favorite games. Games that I would want to play any chance I could game, that I think everyone ought to try at least once, games that I would probably never get sick of. Since that time, I've been exposed to a few dozen other games. I acquired more than 15 games at one game convention alone (Geekway To The West in St. Louis, Missouri), and others through various channels, and I played more games this year than I think I ever have before. Being relatively new in the hobby, my sample size is still pretty small.

Nevertheless, you like what you like, and I like to play games.

With this list, I decided to include 3 Honorable Mentions, because there are just too many games out there that deserve the praise I can't give in a Top 10 (+1) list. I thought about doing a Top 20, but . . . no.

When the clock finally strikes midnight on this list, my hope is that those who read this series will be inspired to check out some of the albums listed here, and thus find out more about the goodness of God. Yeah, the music is an example of great, quality musicianship and stellar production, but there are truths about the nature of God inherent in the very music itself. If nothing else, we have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Father with our eyes completely shut.

So, here we go. Continuing the count with #40.

40. WORLDS AWAY - Crumbacher-DukeI saw a print ad for this album in CCM Magazine, and I liked the fashions that Stephen Crumbacher and Christopher Duke were wearing. Back when many Christian bookstores were doing the "Buy 4 Get 1 Free" sticker promotions, I used the stickers I'd saved to get this cassette for free, and I'm glad I did. It would be several years later when I realized who the "Crumbacher" was in the duo, but I was very glad to hav…